Improvement in children s trays



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. STIOHTEB, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER M. OONGER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDRENS TRAYS Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,804, dated August 8, 1876; application filed February 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. STIGHTER, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements relating to Ghilds Trays, sometimes known as Table-Trays, of which the following is a specification:

In sitting at a table a child is liable to spill drinks and frequently to displace food from the. plate. The utility of a tray of sheet metal, of convenient size to lie on the edge of a table and receive the plate and cup, has been long acknowledged.

The earlier trays, as described in the pat cut to N. Waterman, of 1563, only retained their position on the table by gravity and friction, aided by a hanging lip or rim at the edge nearest the child, which prevented the tray from being pushed inward upon the table. Many efforts have been since made to provide means for clamping such a tray upon the table, and thus increasing the firmness with which it retains its place.

The present invention is for that purpose, and is made to nnship at will, yet when in use to be held by rendering available a portion of its own elasticity.

I provide a spring-clamp, formed of a single piece of elastic metal, which may, for convenience, be a round wire bent in the manner hereinafter shown, and applied with its two ends inserted in sockets near the front rim, and under the same. By compressing the springs, they may be removed from the sockets and packed separately for shipment. When inserted for use the spring finds a suitable abutment against the front rim, and acts with proper force against the under side of the table.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view of the tray complete, seen from below. The strong lines represent the spring in its position for use. The dotted lines represent it as compressed together for removal or insertion. Fig. 2 is a section on the line S S in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both figures.

A is. the body of the tray, formed by stamping, or otherwise, with the proper rims on the sides and back, and with the front edge extending first a little up, and then down. This feature, as also the wiring of the edge, and the side sockets a soldered on the sides, may be all as described in the patent to Walter M. (longer, dated February 6, 1872.

Under the tray at the front, in the recess shown, I solder two sockets, m m, which may be open at both ends, adapted to receive, respectively, the ends b b of a stout spring- Wire, B. This latter may be formed of springbrass, or of hard iron or steel, japanned, nickle-plated, or otherwise coated, if preferred. It is bent by machinery, or otherwise, in the form represented, and when its ends are inserted in the sockets m m its elasticity tends to keep them firmly retained. On drawing the ends together it may be readily inserted or removed from the sockets.

When set in the sockets m m. and the tray is pushed against the edge of a table, the form of the spring B is such that it presses up against the under face of the table, the spring finding an abutment for this force against the under and back side of the hanging front lip of the tray. The sockets to are adapted also to receive removable clips, which may be spring-hooks, not represented, used at will, in addition to the spring B. The sockets a may be omitted, if desired.

My spring B I), applied in the sockets m m, differs from the spring-hooks referred to, in the fact that its elastic action is availed of, not only to spring the tray down upon the table, but also to spring itself firmly into its sockets, and, at the same time, allow of being readily and easily removed at will.

The spring B b may be removed after each use of the tray to facilitate washing and wiping.

I claim as my invention- A table-tray having the sockets m m, in combination with the double-ended spring B b b, adapted to serve therewith, as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of January, 1875, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WM. STIOHTER.

Witnesses:

WALTER T. JOHNSON, CHARLES C. HARBINSON. 

